《Three Years Paralyzed, Watching Him Love Another Woman》
I stumbled upon Ruslan Wyatt’s dark secret; he had planted hundreds of hidden cameras throughout our home.
But I didn’t shed a tear. Instead, I chose to play his game.
Feigning my usual routine, I pretended to leave the house, only to slip back and hide inside the wardrobe.
From my concealed spot, I witnessed a scene that left no room for doubt: Ruslan and his mistress entwined in a brazen display of passion.
His voice was deep and shamelessly husky. “Let’s make this quick. Aurelle usually takes a thirty-minute walk before she returns.”
The mistress stifled a laugh, her tone dripping with mockery. “A paralyzed cripple? It’ll take her at least three hours to make it back.”
Hearing her words, Ruslan shot her a sharp, warning glance.
“Aurelle is determined and resilient. She’s the person I love the most, and she’s my bottom line. Disrespect her again, and we’re done.”
I stumbled upon Ruslan Wyatt’s dark secret; he had planted hundreds of hidden cameras throughout our home.
But I didn’t shed a tear. Instead, I chose to play his game.
Feigning my usual routine, I pretended to leave the house, only to slip back and hide inside the wardrobe.
From my concealed spot, I witnessed a scene that left no room for doubt: Ruslan and his mistress entwined in a brazen display of passion.
His voice was deep and shamelessly husky. “Let’s make this quick. Aurelle usually takes a thirty-minute walk before she returns.”
The mistress stifled a laugh, her tone dripping with mockery. “A paralyzed cripple? It’ll take her at least three hours to make it back.”
Hearing her words, Ruslan shot her a sharp, warning glance.
“Aurelle is determined and resilient. She’s the person I love the most, and she’s my bottom line. Disrespect her again, and we’re done.”
What he didn’t know was the secret I had kept for months: my paralysis was a thing of the past. I could stand, walk, and leave whenever I wanted.
I stepped out of the wardrobe, wiping the tears that had betrayed me only moments ago. Without hesitation, I picked up my phone and dialed.
“I’ll accept the offer abroad.”
——
…
Exactly thirty minutes had passed, not a second more, not a second less.
Just as Thea Hunter was preparing to leave, Ruslan stopped her abruptly.
Hearing his voice, her face brightened with a mixture of hope and delight.
“Mr. Wyatt, are you reluctant to let me go?”
But his response was far from what she had anticipated. He frowned, gesturing toward a piece of underwear wedged in the sofa cushions.
“Take that with you. Don’t let Aurelle find out,” he said curtly.
Thea’s expression soured instantly, her excitement giving way to irritation. She pouted, her tone laced with annoyance.
“Wow, so I’m nothing more than a tool for your pleasure? Poor baby in my belly, suffering alongside me…”
The mention of pregnancy made Ruslan freeze, his entire demeanor shifting. His eyes widened with disbelief, a spark of joy breaking through his usually composed exterior.
“You… you’re pregnant?” he asked, his voice trembling slightly.
Slowly, he placed a tentative hand over her stomach, his expression a mix of wonder and elation.
Thea, seeing his reaction, smiled coyly, her voice dripping with satisfaction.
“After three years of effort, there had to be some result, right?”
Three years. The words hit me like a dagger, cold and sharp. It had been three long years since I lost my ability to walk.
Ruslan grew visibly elated, pulling Thea into a fervent embrace.
“Aurelle is paralyzed,” he murmured, his voice soft yet resolute. “I couldn’t bring myself to touch her. You’re far more than just a passing comfort to me.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you and the baby.”
His words carried a weight of conviction, and Thea leaned in, her eyes glinting with quiet satisfaction.
“What good is protection? My child will still live like me, hidden, nameless, and unacknowledged.”
Ruslan paused, his enthusiasm momentarily tempered by her words. After a moment of thought, he spoke, his voice steady but low.
“When it comes to the child, I’ll handle it. I’ll make Aurelle the godmother so the child can inherit everything, openly and rightfully.”
A slow, contented smile spread across Thea’s face as his promise sank in.
But for me, the room's warmth dissolved into an icy void. My heart sank, heavy and cold, as his words stabbed deeper than any blade could.
Ruslan’s schemes were nothing short of insidious, turning me into the godmother of his mistress’s child.
Once they left, I finally stepped out of my hiding spot, my heart heavy with silent fury.
Moments later, Ruslan returned to the villa, his steps halting abruptly when he saw me. Panic flashed across his face like a storm breaking.
“Aurelle,” he stammered, his voice trembling, “have you been home this entire time? Did… did you hear anything?”
I shook my head, my expression unreadable, my voice devoid of emotion.
“No, I’ve been in my room sleeping.”
Relief washed over him visibly, and he exhaled audibly, his tension dissolving like morning mist.
“Good, good,” he muttered, crouching down in front of me. He wrapped his arms around me in what felt like a hollow embrace.
“I was just on a video call earlier. I’m glad I didn’t disturb you.”
Resting his head against the crook of my neck, he whispered with saccharine sweetness, “Darling, I really love you.”
That evening, Ruslan was in an unusually buoyant mood. He personally cooked a lavish dinner, setting the table with care. Then, kneeling before my wheelchair, he massaged my legs and feet, the gesture dripping with pretense.
Chapter 2
For a fleeting moment, as I watched his gentle, almost cautious demeanor, a part of me wavered. Could the events of this morning have been nothing more than a cruel illusion? But the moment he opened his mouth, reality struck me like a sharp slap.
“Aurelle, given your condition, having children isn’t possible,” he began, his tone tentative yet calculated. “What if we adopted instead?”
His words pierced through me, and my expression turned icy. Seeing the shift in my demeanor, he panicked, pulling me into a desperate embrace.
“Aurelle, did I upset you?” he pleaded, his voice trembling. “Don’t scare me like this. If it’s too much, I won’t mention it again. We can wait until you feel better, okay?”
His nervous attempts to console me only deepened the chasm between us. While he may have temporarily dropped the subject, the resolve in his eyes told me his mind was already made up.
The next morning, Ruslan left the house early, leaving me alone to focus on work-related matters.
“Ms. Aurelle, when can we expect you to join our team?”
“In seven days,” I replied, my tone resolute.
Just as I prepared to end the call, his voice startled me from behind.
“Aurelle, who are you talking to?”
I quickly hung up, masking my nerves with a calm facade. “No one important, just a scam call.”
Satisfied with my response, Ruslan let the matter drop, his focus shifting to Thea, who trailed behind him like a shadow.
“Aurelle, meet Thea Hunter. She’s a top-tier caregiver I hired just for you,” he announced with feigned enthusiasm.
“Since it’s hard for you to move around and I’m often tied up with work, she’ll be here to assist you,” he added smoothly.
His words hung in the air like a lead weight. Thea, catching his unspoken cue, stepped forward with a practiced smile.
“Yes, I specialize in caring for people with disabilities!” she chimed in, her tone dripping with faux sincerity.
I managed a perfunctory nod, masking my disdain. “If that’s what you think is best. I’m feeling tired and will head to bed.”
With that, I wheeled myself into the sanctuary of my bedroom, shutting the door on their charade.
When I woke up, the first thing I saw was Thea, dressed in a maid’s uniform, diligently wiping the floor.
Ruslan sat stiffly on the sofa, his face a mask of seriousness. However, the newspaper in his hands was unmistakably upside down.
The days began to blur together, each one carrying the same tedious routine.
While Ruslan was away at work, Thea’s facade crumbled like a brittle mask. After preparing meals, she would deliberately place the bowls on the highest shelves, well out of my reach.
Hunger would eventually force me to wheel over, staring helplessly at the food perched above me like an unreachable prize.
Catching me in that moment, Thea would saunter by with a feigned look of surprise.
“Oh, I forgot you’re disabled and can’t stand up!” she would exclaim, her voice laced with mockery so sharp it could cut glass.
Her eyes sparkled with malicious delight, the mockery dripping off her words like poison.
But when Ruslan returned home each evening, she would don her mask once more, transforming into the picture of a devoted caregiver.
I would wake to the sound of her creeping into the room, boldly slipping under the covers beside Ruslan.
When he stirred and noticed her, his voice would drop into a frantic whisper.
“Are you out of your mind? Aurelle is right here!” he hissed, panic etched into every word.
But Thea would cling to him like ivy, her tone syrupy and sweet. “The baby in my belly misses you,” she murmured, her audacity boundless.
I could no longer endure the charade. My eyes snapped open, piercing through the dark.
“Keep it down. I’m trying to sleep.”
Ruslan froze before hurriedly ushering her out, stumbling over his words.
“She’s just sleepwalking.”
Watching him stand there, flustered and at a loss, stirred something bittersweet in me.
Once upon a time, he had been a clean-cut, earnest young man. I remembered how his hand trembled slightly when he first held mine, how his shy whisper carried promises as eternal as the stars.
He had whispered in my ear that even if the world crumbled, he would love me until death.
And when the accident left me paralyzed, he had stayed by my side, resolute and unwavering.
“As long as you don’t disturb me, it’s fine,” I said at last, turning my back to him and closing my eyes.
The next morning, I woke to find the back of my shirt dampened by his tears.
During breakfast, his gaze flitted toward me, hesitant and full of unspoken words.
Chapter 3
After we finished our meal, he finally broke the silence.
“Aurelle, let’s make your birthday a grand celebration this year, shall we?”
I hesitated for a brief moment, knowing this would be my last birthday in the country before leaving. Eventually, I nodded. His earlier worries melted away instantly, replaced by an almost childlike excitement.
In the days that followed, Ruslan threw himself into organizing the party with unrestrained enthusiasm. He booked the city’s grandest hotel, procured the finest wine, and extended invitations to half of the elite upper class.
Unlike Ruslan’s uncontainable excitement, Thea’s sour mood was unmistakable, her displeasure simmering just below the surface.
When the day of the party arrived, the venue was a whirlwind of activity and opulence. A six-meter banner stretched across the hall’s entrance, its bold letters proclaiming:
“Celebrating Ruslan’s beloved wife’s 25th birthday!”
As one of the city’s most prominent figures, Ruslan’s reputation drew a steady stream of guests, each eager to raise their glass in a toast.
Smiling, they offered their well-rehearsed compliments.
“Mrs. Wyatt, you’re truly enviable! A husband like Ruslan is one in a million.”
“Did you know this event cost tens of millions? Every detail, every decoration, was personally overseen by him.”
I returned their toasts with a polite smile, neither confirming nor denying their words, letting their admiration float unanswered in the air.
However, as soon as they turned their backs, their expressions shifted. They began whispering among themselves, their voices dripping with disdain.
"She truly believes she’s adored, doesn’t she? Look at her, actually nodding at that."
"Just a useless cripple, clueless about her place in all this."
"Is she really this oblivious, or is she just pretending? Doesn’t she know who this party is really for?"
Strangely enough, their words didn’t pierce through me. There was no anger, no sting. It was as if their venomous whispers had no power over me.
As the party reached its peak, someone suddenly shouted, "A shooting star!"
In an instant, everyone rushed toward the balcony, their excitement palpable.
Sitting in my wheelchair, I was jostled by the sudden rush of the crowd. In the chaos, my wheelchair tipped, and I crashed to the ground.
As I fell, my foot caught the ribbon that held the banner in place.
With a sudden, sharp pull, the banner came tumbling down, revealing another layer beneath it.
I stared at the banner that had just been uncovered, my body frozen in place.
The words were clear and unmistakable. "Celebrating the Wyatt family's child’s arrival!"
The cold truth hit me: this entire celebration had never been for me.
It had always been for the child growing in Thea’s belly.
Despite the small signs of recovery in my legs, the panicked crowd trampled over me, sending waves of pain through my body. I couldn’t move, couldn’t get up.
Just before everything went dark, I saw Thea on the balcony; her eyes closed in silent prayer as she made a wish upon the shooting star. Ruslan stood beside her, his gaze soft, filled with an affection that was never meant for me.
When I awoke, I found myself in a sterile hospital bed.
I tried to move my legs, only to be greeted with sharp, biting pain.
But it wasn’t the pain that pierced me deeper; it was the conversation outside the room, colder than any physical injury.
I heard the doctor’s voice.
"Mr. Wyatt, your wife’s legs are showing signs of recovery, but we’ll need more tests to determine if they can fully heal."
To my surprise, Ruslan didn’t seem relieved. Instead, his anger flared as he snapped at the doctor.
"I pay you a fortune, and this is what I get?"
"I’ve been feeding Aurelle so much medicine to damage her nerves. The whole point was to make her feel worthless, paralyzed, so she’d never leave me."
His voice dropped, but the frustration still bled through.
"I've gone to such extremes, even installing hundreds of surveillance cameras around the house, just to keep her by my side, to make sure she can never bear children, and to ensure that Thea’s child becomes the Wyatt family's first heir!"
As he spoke, Ruslan grabbed the doctor by the collar.
"And now you’re telling me this could all be for nothing? If Aurelle recovers from her paralysis, you can kiss goodbye to your job as director!"
I clenched my fists, the reality sinking in.
So this was why my legs, barely injured, had been paralyzed for three years. He had insisted the medication was some ancient cure he'd gathered from around the world.
Only recently, when I began feeling nauseous and refused to drink it, did I secretly spit it out to spare his feelings.
The moment I stopped taking it, my legs started to heal.
I paused to calm myself, the pieces falling into place.
Outside, Ruslan was still shouting at the doctor.
He'd even called in top specialists to discuss my paralysis.
As soon as they weren’t looking, I didn’t hesitate.
I shed my hospital gown and walked out, every step a declaration of my freedom.
Hailing a taxi, I was ready to leave, to escape him.
When Ruslan found my room empty, he lost it.
He rushed outside, grabbing strangers, desperately asking if they’d seen me.
Coincidentally, just as I was sliding into the taxi, Ruslan’s eyes locked with mine through the window.
His gaze was sharp and predatory, like a hunter stalking its prey, making my heart shudder.
